p. 148 | Western Tour by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 25, 1870

Western Tour.

By James White

A change of appointment of an important meeting is always to be regretted, especially if that change be made only two or three weeks before the meeting takes place. It is almost sure to mislead some, and put many to inconvenience, and injure the interest of the meeting. Therefore, in giving a line of appointments which will cover several months, we regard it a matter of great importance to place them so that change of neither time nor place may be necessary.

But unlooked-for causes sometime make changes appear very necessary. And it is impossible to call the people together to our camp-meetings without giving them a few weeks’ notice. If possible, there should be at least six weeks’ notice of all our meetings. Our brethren may be assured that these matters have caused us much care and anxiety. And whatever we may have to do with important meetings in the future, our brethren may be assured that we shall spare no pains to act our part faithfully, in the fear of God.

OHIO.

The change in the time of the Ohio camp-meeting caused some confusion. And it was a matter of regret that the attendance was not more general. It is now decided that Clyde is not the most accessible place for all the brethren to meet at their annual camp-meeting. Locating it near the center of the State for next year, it is hoped that there will be a general turnout of the brethren and sisters, with their relatives, friends and neighbors. It is now thought best that each family that is able to do so, occupy a tent of respectable size of their own, so as to give ample room for all their friends.

The Ohio camp-meeting this season, though not large, was an excellent meeting. The word spoken seemed to take hold of the brethren, and the people generally heard with marked interest. The Methodists, who have the finest church in the place, asked Mrs. W. to speak to them. The appointment was given in three churches, and on the camp-ground Sunday evening, and on Monday evening, the Methodist house was crowded with attentive hearers. The whole thing passed off finely, and left a good impression.

It was on the Ohio camp-ground that, contrary to our decision, and our feelings relative to more camp-meetings the present season, the burden, relative to our scattered people in the West, rolled upon us. We made the matter the subject of prayer, and our convictions deepened that our work in this direction was not finished for the season. We laid the matter before our good brethren in Ohio, and they pledged their prayers and means to go with us in the work. They pledged $300, and paid on the ground $150. And in many ways they manifested their deep interest for us, and the prosperity of the cause. The Ohio Conference meets all its bills liberally and promptly. This year it gives $200 to the General Conference, and has not less than $1000 in the hands of the S. D. A. Publishing Association without interest, to be called out when Ohio shall need it. May God raise up and qualify laborers to enter such fields as Ohio, with that zeal manifested by the pioneers of the cause.

INDIANA.

We had suggested a camp-meeting in Indiana; but as it was not immediately responded to by the friends in this State, and as we were not clear that there was time to hold a camp-meeting the present season in Indiana, we withdrew the suggestion. But as we decided to hold a camp-meeting in Kansas, and could not place the appointment sooner than Oct. 15-19, we also decided to spend a week in Indiana, on our way West.

We were aware that the cause was weak, the friends in Indiana being few, and did not expect, at this season of the year, only a very small gathering of the brethren. Bro. Lane immediately left us in Ohio, and came to Indiana to arrange for a camp-meeting. The place selected is Tipton, Tipton Co., on the railroad, at the Methodist camp-ground. Here are a speaker’s stand, board tents, seats and wells. We have the privilege of the ground for $50.

We are glad to see as many of the scattered friends in Indiana, as are present. Some are detained by sickness. Those who have spoken the word, have enjoyed freedom. The social meetings have been good, and encouraging.

The Sabbath has been a good day. Here, on this ground, in the midst of his friends, surrounded by those who are the direct fruits of his labors, our dear brother, Elbert Lane, has been set apart to the gospel ministry. Bro. Lane, when he gave himself to the work, did not linger about our churches, to preach to those who could not be benefited by his youthful labors. But he came to the new field of Indiana, and God has blessed his labors. He has proved himself, and has gained a reputation that he could not have done in lingering about our churches.

The opposition from ministers, and from the people generally, is just what is needed to lead a young man to close thought, and thorough investigation. Could Brn. Strong and Lamson of the Michigan Conference, and other young men, take a similar course, they would soon find themselves surrounded with the fruits of their labors, as Bro. Lane finds himself situated in Indiana. First-day, our congregations were large, and very attentive. God gives power to his word, and it is wonderful how the crowd listen to the voice of truth in the third message. We spoke in the evening, giving some of the reasons of our faith and hope. Mrs. W. is now speaking as we pen these lines, and Bro. Littlejohn is to address the people this evening. The battle goes well. The brethren and sisters are becoming

interested in the work. And although our meeting is small, it is destined to be a very profitable one. Bro. E. B. Lane decides to remain in the State, baptize, organize, and set things in order, and with his natural brother, S. H. Lane, enter new fields in the State. May God bless the brethren and sisters in Indiana, and add to their numbers such as shall be an honor to his cause.

The meeting closes second-day at noon. There is a good degree of spirit with the brethren in this State to hold a yearly meeting. And it is thought that it should be a camp-meeting. They are now raising a fund to meet the expenses of this meeting, and to make preparations for a camp-meeting next year. Our few friends in Indiana are generally in good condition to live, and some of them are wealthy. Much depends upon the course these men take as to the destiny of the cause in Indiana. If the friends of the cause in this State, rich and poor, take hold of the work to meet the expenses of meetings, the expenses of ministerial labor, and the circulation of our publications in the State, those who have the general supervision of the work, will second all their efforts to promote the interests of the cause. The field is a wide one. Laborers are few. Calls for help are abundant. And it is duty to put forth labor where the friends are ready to fully co-operate with the laborers. JAMES WHITE.